The VA is working closely with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other federal partners to provide COVID-19 vaccines to Veterans and VA health care personnel. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authorized the first 2 COVID-19 vaccines.  We currently have a limited amount of these vaccines.

We’ve worked with the CDC and other federal partners to develop a phased plan. Our goal is to do the most good for the most people during this time.

Under this plan, these groups are now being vaccinated at some VA health care facilities:

  • VA health care personnel. Vaccinating our VA health care personnel helps us continue to provide care for Veterans.
  • Veterans living in our long-term care facilities
  • Veterans who receive care at VA and are at high risk from COVID-19 based on VA and CDC risk criteria. At many VA health care facilities, this group includes all Veterans who are at least 75 years old. Each facility will determine when Veterans in this group can receive a vaccine. They’ll base this decision on vaccine availability, local needs, as well as the strict storage and handling requirements of the vaccines.

Some designated family caregivers may qualify for vaccines:

  • Family caregivers who are enrolled in our Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC) are eligible for vaccination when the Veteran they care for becomes eligible. If the Veteran you care for meets the criteria above, both you and the Veteran may be able to get vaccinated now. Vaccinating caregivers helps us support and protect Veterans.

Please wait for us to contact you about getting a COVID-19 vaccine.

When you can get a vaccine at your local VA health facility, we’ll contact you. You don’t need to call us to reserve a vaccine or come to a VA facility to request or receive a vaccine until we contact you. Our staff will only provide vaccines to Veterans and designated caregivers who are currently eligible for one based on VA and CDC risk criteria.

Be aware that some VA health care facilities are hosting large vaccination events or asking Veterans to call the facility directly to schedule a vaccination. If you receive communications from your local VA health care facility about getting vaccinated at a large-scale event or contacting the facility to make an appointment, we encourage you to do so if you are in one of the risk groups currently being vaccinated at VA.

If you have questions, here’s how to get the information you need:

  • For ongoing updates on our COVID-19 vaccine plan, sign up for email updates.
  • For more details on your local VA health facility’s current plan, find your facility’s website. On the facility website menu, go to Health care services, then COVID-19.
  • For answers to general questions about getting a vaccine at VA, read our FAQs. If you don’t find your answer there, call our MyVA411 main information line at 800-698-2411 (TTY: 711).
  • For more information about how your personal risk for COVID-19 will determine when you can get a vaccine, send a secure message to your VA health care provider. If you don’t receive care at VA, contact your primary health care provider.

Basic information about getting your vaccine at VA

As the supply of vaccine increases, we’ll work with our care teams to let you know your options. It’s your choice if you want to get a vaccine or not. Your decision won’t affect your VA health care or any of your VA benefits in any way.

Where we’ll offer vaccines

The first 2 authorized COVID-19 vaccines require special storage and handling. Because of this, we have a limited supply of vaccines. Our VA facilities will provide vaccines to Veterans receiving VA health care who are most at risk.

When more vaccines are available, we’ll determine when we can provide vaccines through our community provider network.

Eligibility

When more vaccines become available, we plan to offer a free COVID-19 vaccine to all Veterans receiving VA health care who want one.

Your team will contact you when a vaccine is available to you. If you decide to get the vaccine, your team will help you schedule your appointments.

If you’re not currently receiving health care through VA, find out if you’re eligible and how to apply now.

For further information about the VA and the COVID vaccine, please see https://www.va.gov/health-care/covid-19-vaccine/

Veterans can sign up to receive updates on the VA’s distribution of the vaccine. Please note that Veterans do not need to sign up to receive the vaccine. Also, please note that there is no charge to receive the COVID vaccine through the VA. Please be aware that there are scams out there, and please advise Veterans that they should not respond to anything asking for a credit card or other private information, like their SSN. Veterans will receive calls from the VA to schedule an appointment to receive the vaccine, and we already have their SSN.